Small Business Tips

Owning a small business often means wearing every possible hat available, from marketer to sales clerk and inventory manager to HR professional. Learn from the experiences of the small business owners who are NFIB members as well as the best experts for each industry. Below you will find small business tips for everything from taxes and regulation to promotion and networking.

You’ve created a fantastic website for your small business, but when you do a search for your business name you’re nowhere to be seen. Getting your website to rank at the top of search engine results pages (SERPs) is an ongoing process, and any service offering an easy fix won’t bring you long-term results. The world of search engine optimization...

LeBron James led the Cleveland Cavaliers against Stephen Curry’s Golden State Warriors in an epic seven-game clash that ended with an unprecedented victory for the Cavaliers, who battled back from a 3-1 deficit to claim the title of 2016 NBA champions.
Entertainment aside, owners can learn some real business lessons from the finals. Here are four practices owners can borrow for...

Small businesses can’t afford to ignore the growing popularity of videos. Video sharing is soaring on business’ Facebook pages, and more than 80 percent of all consumer internet traffic is expected to consist of video by 2019. This trend could soon make video creation central to most content marketing plans. These tips can help you learn how to reach larger...

Nike is projecting $50 billion in sales by 2020. But some of its growth strategy can be borrowed for free.
Nike shoes, and now apparel, have been around for more than half a century. Nike has stayed relevant by continuously trying different marketing strategies, taking advantage of the latest channels, and telling inspiring stories, fictional and real.
RELATED: 4 Lessons Your Small...

You don’t have to reinvent the wheel—and that includes marketing best practices.
In a recent survey, more than 1,000 small business owners were asked about their marketing practices, challenges, and goals for 2016. Here’s what you can learn from the strategies—and obstacles—of the respondents.
MORE MARKETING HELP: Visit NFIB’s marketing resource center for other useful advice.
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Social media has made it easier than ever to connect with customers and sell products online, and businesses are increasingly using Facebook as a virtual event space. Follow these best practices to make the most of the virtual launch trend.
1. Build a following first.
Great marketing efforts are wasted if no one is watching. Start by inviting your clients, customers, employees,...

NFIB member Derrick Handwerk has owned, managed, and consulted for privately held businesses for over 25 years. He is currently the managing partner of Handwerk Multi Family Office in Lansdale, Pennsylvania. Like many other small business owners, Derrick has become all too aware that independent businesses face an increasingly unlevel playing field when competing against large public businesses. To that...

The Internet has made it easier than ever for counterfeiters to deceive consumers, siphon sales from small businesses, and even damage the reputations of manufacturers. These tips will help you protect your products and your brand.
Trademark your product.
In order to establish legal ownership of a product, logo, or brand, you must file for a trademark or design patent. An intellectual...

It’s a question every small business owner eventually asks: How much should I pay myself? Unfortunately, there are no short answers or across-the-board percentages.
We spoke with small business owner Gilbert Cerda, a certified financial planner, to get his take:
Q. Where do I start?
A. Cash flow. This is the biggest determining factor when starting or running a business. If cash flow is...

Decades may have passed since Jimmy Buffett released his most popular songs, but the fun-loving musician has hardly been wasting away in Margaritaville. In addition to touring, releasing new albums, and writing best-selling books, he runs a business empire that includes the Margaritaville and Cheeseburger in Paradise restaurants, casinos, packaged foods, alcohol, footwear, and a satellite radio station. In all,...